Utility christmas tree base



H. P. PERKINS Oct. 15, 1968 UTILITY CHRISTMAS TREE BASE Filed Jan.

4 Mn/E/v 70 19/4 /55 1? PEEK/NS United States Patent 3,405,895 UTILITYCHRISTMAS TREE BASE Hayes P. Perkins, 205 1st St., Monticello, Ky.

Filed Jan. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 607,430 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-44) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to Christmas treestands.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a utilityChristmas tree base for the purpose of supporting a Christmas treeindoors during the Christmas holiday season so that the same may beretained in an upright position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a utilityChristmas tree base which is readily convertible into an ash tray standwhen it is not used for supporting a Christmas tree.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a utilityChristmas tree base which is supported upon a plurality of wheels sothat the supported tree may be readily rolled around during decoratingand thereby making the work easier to see, and wherein the base may berolled out of the way when used either as a Christmas tree support orash stand such as when cleaning up a floor.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a utilityChristmas tree base which is simple in design, inexpensive tomanufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efiicient inoperation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the utility Christmas treebase shown supporting a Christmas tree, and

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof shown converted for supporting anash tray on the upper part thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral representsa utility Christmas tree base, according to the present inventionwherein there is an upstanding tubular leg 11 which is flared at itslower end 12 to form a horizontally extending flange 13 which issupported upon a plurality of wheels 14 located in equally spaced apartpositions.

Each of the wheels 14 is provided with a downwardly cupped element 15located thereabove for the purpose of concealing the top portion of thewheel from view. Configurated members 15 thus comprise a shieldingcanopy over each of the wheels. A ring 16 is secured by means of aplurality of bolts 17 to the upper side of the flange 13 and provides areinforcement means to the flange 13.

Leg 15 is likewise flared at its upper end as shown at 18, the flaredend forming a horizontal flange 19 that is provided at its peripheraledge with an upstanding, relatively low side wall 20 to form a tray 21.

A cone configurated cup 22 is secured by means of bolts or rivets 23within the leg 11, between the opposite ends ice.

of the leg, the cone configurated cup providing a means for supportingthe lower end of a trunk 24 of a Christmas tree 25. Obviously, if thecup be made watertight, then a small quantity of water may be placedwithin the cup 22 if desired so as to maintain the Christmas treeneedles from falling oif the tree too soon. A plurality of thumb screws26 are threadingly secured in the leg 11 at a point somewhat above thecone configurated cup 22. The thumb screws 26 provide a means forbearing against the sides of the tree trunk 24 and serve to hold theChristmas tree 25 upright.

In operative use, the lower end of a tree trunk 24 is inserted into thecone configurated cup 22, after which the thumb screws 26 are turned soto bear against the tree trunk and support the same so that the treestands in a vertical position upon the utility Chrismas tree base. Whenthe device is not used for supporting a Christmas tree, then an ash tray27 may be placed upon the tray 21, thereby providing utility for thedevice at all times throughout the year.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction it isunderstood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a utility Christmas tree base, the combination of a verticaltubular leg, the lower end of said leg being outwardly flared, saidflared end of said leg forming a horizontal flange, said flange beingprovided with means for rolling said utility Christmas tree base acrossa floor of a room, and the upper end of said @leg being provided withmeans for selectively supporting a Christmas tree or an ash tray, saidmeans for rolling said utility Christmas tree base across a floor of aroom comprising a plurality of wheels secured to the underside of saidflange, each of said wheels having a downwardly cupped canopy over theupper part thereof to hide said wheels from view, said means forsupporting said Christmas tree comprising a cone configurated cupsecured within an intermediate portion of said legs and a plurality ofthumb screws threadingly secured within an upper portion of said leg,said thumb screws extending inwardly, said cone configurated cupsupporting the lower end of said Christmas tree trunk, and said thumbscrews supporting the sides of said Christmas tree trunk, the upper endof said leg being outwardly flared, said flared upper end forming ahorizontal flange, said horizontal flange having an upwardly extending,relatively low side wall adjacent the peripheral edge of said flange,said flange and upwardly extending side wall forming a tray.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein an ash tray isremovably placed within a central portion of said tray when said utilityChristmas tree base is used as an ash stand.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 138,190 4/1873 Piper 297-4451,662,091 3/1928 Vuozzo 248-44 1,962,255 6/1934 Neidinger 248-44 X2,073,680 3/ 1937 Campbell 312-254 2,613,389 10/1952 Cramer 16-442,867,398 1/ 1959 Rose 248-44 2,994,498 8/1961 Sager 248-44 3,230,9101/1966 Olsson 108-150 X CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner,

